About Andy

The short version

I'm a Candidate for Certified Financial Planner® who spent nearly a decade as a software engineer before making the switch to financial planning. I built Ad Astra because tech professionals deserve an advisor who actually understands them and their world.

The longer version

When I was working in tech, I felt that the financial planning industry wasn't really built for people like my colleagues and me. The typical advisor didn't understand the way tech professionals think, the decisions we face, or the pace at which things change.

At the same time, I wanted more from my own career - the chance to build something of my own, help people directly, and have real control over how I spend my time. I started getting to work on my CFP® certification and built the practice I wished had existed: flat-fee, deeply technical, and designed around how tech professionals actually work and live.

I work with clients nationwide, with concentrations in the San Francisco Bay Area and greater Boston area. All meetings are virtual.

Credentials

• Candidate for Certified Financial Planner® certification
• Software Engineer by profession for nearly a decade
• Featured in USA Today, Associated Press, MSN, U.S. News & World Report, WealthManagement.com, Wealth of Geeks, and the Sabbatical Project

Beyond the numbers

The name "Ad Astra" means "to the stars." I got into astronomy during my "gap year" in 2020/2021 when I discovered a love for wild camping - turns out staring up at the night sky is a great way to put things in perspective. It felt like the right name for a practice built around helping people see the bigger picture and chart a path forward in light of what matters most to you.

When I'm not doing taxes or financial planning, you'll find me stand-up paddleboarding, playing pickleball, voraciously reading, learning new skills, enjoying live music, watching the San Francisco 49ers, or planning the next trip.